New Zealand’s First Masterclass for Home Winemakers?

Wine enthusiasts, as
well as new and seasoned home winemakers, can learn the
secrets of the profession from veteran vintner Justin
Oliver.

Oliver is from Matakana’s famous Mt
Tamahunga Vineyard and has over 20 years industry winemaking
experience at wineries throughout New Zealand and in
California. He is also Senior Cidermaker at Zeffer Cider and
has distilled professionally. Oliver is in the throes of
launching his own wine brand, Free Range Wine Co,
specialising in premium wine on tap.

The Syrah grapes
that Mt Tamahunga make into $50 a bottle wine can also be
pre-purchased from makewine.co.nz to be collected at the
masterclass. The supply is very limited this year – and
will be sold on a first in first served. Mt Tamahunga
vineyard is one of oldest in the area. It was first planted
by the Vuletic brothers for the famous Antipodean Farm wine
label of the 1980's. People may remember a 5-litre bottle of
this Bordeaux-styled red selling for $5000 at auction. Those
were the days! The Syrah vines were planted in 2004 by new
owners, for the premium Mt Tamahunga wine label.

The 2013
and 2014 harvests are destined for Justin’s Free Range
Wine Co. label. The vineyard has been managed under an
organic conversion regime for the last year, so has received
minimal chemical sprays. The 2014 vintage promises to be one
of the best on record.

“Those who enjoy a great wine may
not be aware they can make a fairly comparable product,
armed with some basic knowledge, quality grapes and
equipment as basic as a bucket” says Karen q Temple of makewine.co.nz; the masterclass’
organiser. “I would encourage anyone who would like to
try making their own wine to come along to the masterclass
and give it a try”.

Many of makewine.co.nz’s customers make
“country” or “hedgerow “wines; from fruit,
vegetables and various random ingredients like gorse flowers
& rose petals. It can be difficult to source winemaking
grapes but Temple says she has noticed a spike in growers
interested in supplying grapes to home winemakers this year.
Whilst fruit wine can be delicious, wine made from
winemaking grapes is easier to make and results in a product
much closer to what people might expect to buy at their
local wine store or supermarket.

Oliver and Temple’s
vision is to grow this small event into an annual symposium
possibly with multiple workshops, tastings, behind the
scenes winery tours and a home winemaker’s
competition.

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